16 April 2025: Maori Battalion photos, Tarawera sewerage scheme

Media: Various

Topic: Call for B Company Maori Battalion photos

Enquiries

Radio Waatea, Radio NZ, Te Ao Maori News/Wakaata Maori, TVNZ (OneNews) requested interviews relating to the call for photographs for the museum Māori Battalion

Responses

Interviews were arranged for today and tomorrow for the various outlets with Graeme Vercoe – Chair of B Company, 28th NZ (Māori) Battalion History Trust and with Stewart Brown – Rotorua Director – Rotorua Museum & Heritage

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Media: Local Democracy Reporter

Topic: Tarawera sewerage scheme

Enquiry

Can I please ask for response to the below. I have included how the council has maintained it consulted and how it introduced further mitigation

Rotokākahi Board of Control chairman Wally Lee said in a statement on Monday afternoon it planned to “imminently” file challenges in the High Court against the council.

“Our whawhai now goes from the Environment Court to the High Court,” Lee said.

“In the Environment Court we challenged the council’s lack of resource consent, and their issuing of a permission notice days before they resumed earthworks in February.

“The Environment Court ruled that this issue could only be dealt with by the High Court. So that is where we are now headed to.”

Lee said the council “had us believe” it did not need a resource consent and was only when the board told them it would take the legal route it issued the permission notice.

“It is disempowering for our people to have the council run over the top of us and our wāhi tapu with questionable processes,” Lee said.

The board sought High Court action to both appeal the Environment Court decision and for a judicial review of the council’s decision making.
“The judicial review seeks to overturn the council’s irregular permission notice as well as their decision to install this pipe without consulting the Rotokākahi Board of Control.”

Lee said the board agreed with the need to protect Lake Tarawera, “but not at the expense of Rotokākahi, Te Wairoa Stream, and heritage environments”.

Response

From Group Manager Infrastructure and Assets, Stavros Michael:

We’re aware of the press release issued by the Rotokākahi Board of Control and will await formal notification from the High Court.

The Tarawera sewerage scheme follows extensive work to consider options and included discussion with and input from iwi and hapū, including the Board of Control, with the preferred option put forward after careful consideration of all technical, environmental, cultural, financial and planning factors.

As the Environment Court noted, the council made considerable attempts to engage with the Board of Control.